Thermodynamical and mechanical efficiency of a ratchet pump Original Research Article

The mechanical and thermal behaviors of a model ratchet were studied and its efficiency calculated when subjected to external changes in temperature or potential. For dichotomic changes we succeeded in analytically establishing the values of the current and the efficiency. It is remarkable that, when operated mechanically, the pump efficiency may be considerably lower than under thermal changes; the maximal mechanical efficiency is attained at a finite temperature.